The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1887-03-31
OHIO HISTORY.
GAINESVILLE Selected as the State
Capital Seventy-Seven
Years Ago.
Ebenczcr Zane and His Son-in-Law, John
McIntire--How the Latter Upheld the
Laws in Muskingum County.

A poipt for the permanent location of the Cap
ital OF Ohio was fixed upon with great difficulty
From the organization Of the State Government
in 1902 and 1903, until 1910, the Capital was
Chillicothc. ,.. .I.
In 1909 a law was passed transferring the seat
OF Government TO GAINESVILLE, where 1t remained
for two years, and was then removed back to
Chllicothe. La
The ambitious towns Of Ohio all wanted to be
selected as the permanent seat Of the State
Government, and the contest over tho matter
rose to the point Of bitterness. Cincinnati
Chillicothe, Lancaster, Marietta and other
places urged their claims upon successive Leg
islatures with pcrsistency md force Chilli.
cothe, which was the home OF the shrewdest
politicians in the State, held the Capital till
1910, and secured its return two years later,
and would no doubt have become tho final
choice Of the State had not geographical con-
siderations been advanced against 1t.
The towns Of Ohio were SO small and so poor
in the first decade Of this century that 1t was
thought worth while to make great point OF
trying to secure the capital. The notion was
that its location in town would make that
towns future prosperity and greatness certain.
So when the offices OF the State were moved to
GAINESVILLE there was mirthful rejoicing on the
part OF its citizens. Real estate advanced in
price, and q great deal Of land in the county
that had remained unsought was entered. The
GAINESVILLE people thought II they succeeded in
bringing the State government to their town
that they would be able to retain It. There was
apparently little doubt on that point. The
hopeful minds of the early people Of the town
scared of on wings Of prophecy. and they saw q
great city springing up about them, and fnncied
that the powerful mart and metropolis Of the
West was destined to spread over the rich bot
toms and engaging hillsides that mark the
natural scenery OF the charming country watered
by the Muskingum and Licking, about the re
gion OF their confluence.
II there is spot near the central part o
Ohio that nature has richly endowed with. the
qualities that make desirable site for great
city, the founder OF Zavesville discovered II
and laid his town out upon 1t. Magnificent
rivers, energetic water power, efficient natur;,
drainage, and salubrious hill-tops make sum
OF primcval advantages that few other cities In
the State possess.
In the race for opulence, population and
commercial importance GAINESVILLE had fairei
start than any Of its rivals, save Marietta and
Cincinnati. Possibly these sketches may show
in an indirect way, how its business oppor
tunities were missed
When GAINESVILLE became the second Capital
Of Ohio IL accomplished two things. 1t brough,
itself into temporary prominence, and it be-
came target for the slings and arrows Of oil
jealous Ohio towns. On the other side OF the
river Muskingum there was q sprightly little
settlement and town called Putnam, after the
ilustrious founder of the State 1t was smaller
than GAINESVILLE, but there were more people oi
intelligence there at that time. So Putnam be
came n claimant for the honor Of being the
Capital city. A stone house was made ready
nnd put ut the disposal Of tho Legislature, bu,
that body met in the GAINESVILLE house that had
been built for its accommodation.